CABARROGUIS, QUIRINO – The Provincial Government of Quirino vies for the 20th Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Award after having been visited by the National Validators on June 26-29, 2018.
Gawad KALASAGis the country's premier annual awards for outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance. It is the principal mechanism by which the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) advances awareness of the best practices of DRRM and humanitarian response and action.
Quirino Province, after making it to the regional level and consequently qualifying to the national level, has been included in the shortlist for the said award and hence is subjected for validation.
The PDRRMC where the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Quirino is a member, headed by Governor Junie E. Cua, welcomed the Gawad KALASAG National Validation Team composed of Team Leader Amor B. Rosana of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Esther L. Geraldoy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bernard R. Punzalan II of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Asya Marie L. Barrios of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on June 26, 2018.
Part of the validation is an on-site inspection of DRRM facilities and equipment such as the rain gauge at Disiluad Bridge, flood warning signage at San Pedro Bridge, landslide signage at Landingan Viewpoint, water level marker at Pinaripad Bridge, DRRM wall painting project at Maddela Comprehensive High School, MDRRMC of LGU Diffun, BDRRMC of Barangay Aurora West, Evacuation Center and Emergency Operations Center where various search and rescue paraphernalia were examined on June 27, 2018 until morning of June 28, 2018.
In a short program held in the afternoon of June 28, 2018, Governor Cua presented the milestones achieved by the Council under the areas of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response and Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery as well as the DRRM innovations and best practices. The performance of the Province alongside these four (4) thematic areas was validated by the Team through documentary evaluation of plans, policies and other sources of verification. Post assessment feedback were later presented by the Team during the exit conference.
The Province attributes its entry in the national level to the continuous improvement of its services, equipment and personnel despite financial constraints, it being a third income class province. He acknowledged the crucial role of the strategic cooperation and partnership between the different stakeholders and duty bearers in this endeavour. “What we have achieved so far is indicative of our strong determination to make Quirino as disaster-resilient and as climate change-adaptive as can be,” Governor Cua said.
LGOO II Blessing Grace G. Sagun
